As parents, your priority is to keep track of your kids' overall health. No parent would want to see their child falling behind in their development miles because of specific nutrition deficiencies, especially for protein. Thus, protein powders have become one of the most straightforward solutions to this nutritional concern.

If you are trying to find a good protein powder for your kids, you just landed in the right place!

In this post, we will discuss the following main points:

• Why are proteins essential for your kids' health?
• How much protein do your kids need?
• What do you need to know in looking for a good protein powder?
• What ingredients to avoid a protein powder product?

Read on to learn more! 

 Proteins are building blocks of body tissues. They play several principal roles in your kid's growth and development. The functions of protein include:

• Aids growth, repair, and maintenance of the body's organs systems - especially for the bones and muscles.
• Supports brain growth and development. Promotes healthy skin, hair, bone, and muscles.
• Helps carry oxygen through the body.
• Supports food digestion by breaking down complex substances into simpler ones.
• Keeps the defense system strong to protect the body from foreign pathogens.

According to the  Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine National Academy of Sciences, the protein requirement of children is broken down by age.

Four to nine-year-old children need 19 grams of protein per day, while 9 to 13 years old children need 34 grams of protein per day.

On the other hand, experts would say that the protein requirement of children must be around 10 to 30 percent of their daily calories.

What foods are rich in protein? Proteins are found in lean meats, seafood, dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

If your kids are not getting enough protein in their diet, many health consequences are involved. It includes:

• Delayed or stunted growth rate
• Weak immunity
• Fatigue
• Lack of concentration
• Hunger
• Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) - kwashiorkor and marasmus in severe cases.

To prevent the health impacts of protein deficiencies, you must know your child's daily protein requirement according to their age, and you have to make sure to incorporate more protein-rich foods in their diet.

The answer is, depends on their health condition. You don't need to give your kids protein supplements if they eat a well-balanced diet and don't have a medical condition that prevents them from consuming enough protein.

As protein deficiencies can cause several health consequences, excessive consumption of protein can also harm your child. As a result, it may inflict a metabolic burden on their organs and increase their risk of weight gain, digestive issues, coronary heart disease, and kidney disease.

The best cases to give your child protein supplements like protein powders are as follows:

• They are picky eaters.
• They have been diagnosed with a medical condition.
• They are underweight.
• They have a metabolic disorder.
• They are following a vegan or vegetarian diet.

Aside from these conditions, you may include protein powder in your kids' diet as long as you don't exceed the recommended protein intake.

It is best to see your child's pediatrician and find out if they need protein supplementation. 

Many protein powders in the market are loaded with lots of processed ingredients that can be harmful to your child's health. That's why you need to check the label before you buy them. Here is a list of ingredients that you should avoid in a protein powder product:

• Artificial Colors such as Yellow #6, Red #40, Blue, and #2. These synthetic ingredients may cause allergies, irritability, hyperactivity, and learning impairment, or irritability
• Sugar alcohols. Examples of sugar alcohol ingredients are sorbitol and mannitol. They are used to give an additional texture and moisture retention to foods. However, the side effects can lead to gastrointestinal issues such as bloating and diarrhea.
• Thickener, filler, or preservatives. They can trigger allergies, digestive problems, neurological damage, or even cancer.
• Sugar replacements. Kids indeed love sweet-flavored drinks. However, note that aspartame and sucralose are famous examples of sugar replacements or sugar substitutes. These ingredients can be harmful to health as they cause weight gain, tumors, or cancer.

This time, let's discuss what you should look for in a protein powder. Protein powders are either made from dairy or plant sources. Examples of dairy-based protein are whey and casein. As for plant-based protein, there's pea protein, hemp protein, soy protein, and rice protein.

Protein powders generally contain protein, vitamins and minerals, and other healthy ingredients. Here are a few tips on what good protein powders should and should not have:

1. They are formulated for children. 
2. They should contain an appropriate amount of proteins. Check the serving size and determine how much protein it contains per serving. Be aware of how much protein your kids need, and ensure that the protein powder you will buy should not exceed your child's daily recommended intake.
3. It should have sufficient doses of vitamins and minerals.
4. It should not contain added sugars or sugar replacements, thickeners, fillers, artificial colors, and other ingredients that may harm your child's health.
5. They are tested by 3rd-party laboratories testing.
6. Choose organic and non-GMO protein powders. They are better options. 

Support your child’s nutritional needs with Nuzest’s Kids Good Stuff! It contains pea protein isolate, a type of protein that has a high biological value. It is also rich in vitamin Bs, C, D, E, and K!

Here’s how our Kids Good Stuff can help your child:

• Boosts their vitamins & minerals intake to strengthen their immunity.
• Supports bone and muscle development with 8g of plant-based protein per serve.
• Promotes healthy and happier insides with pre-and probiotics
• Provide long-lasting energy to help them live, learn, grow and play!

There’s more! Kids Good Stuff is free from harmful ingredients. It’s low in sugar, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and non-GMO!

Disclaimer: 

The information provided on Nuzest is for educational and informational purposes only. The information provided on this site is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional advice or care. Please speak to your qualified healthcare professional in the event that something you have read here raises questions or concerns regarding your health.